Perfect No More
"M
ad Max" Ruml's run for
the perfect season in the
AMA Speedway National Cham-
pionship is over. For the first time
this year, Ruml did not win the
final at Industry Hill Speedway,
Wednesday night, August 17, and
it didn't come to an end in the
most glamorous way. When all
was said and done, Aaron Fox
came away with the win.
After taking on the best in the
country all year long and wad-
ing through opponents such as
10-time National Champion Billy
Janniro, Connor Penhall, Austin
Novratil, Gino "G-Man" Manzares
and just about everyone you can
name, Ruml's winning streak
came to an end, and in the not
most spectacular way. The final
needed three starts, something
not seen in years.
Ruml is usually spot-on with his
launches. Ruml picked lane two
or the "off-pole" position for the
main. The gate was pulled down
for the start, but before anyone
could really get the rpm up, and
to the amazement of everyone,
Ruml rolled through the tapes—an
automatic exclusion.
The remaining three riders,
Aaron Fox, Slater Lightcap and
Novratil, lined up at the tapes.
It looked like Navratil had a run
going around Lightcap and Fox,
using Ruml's usual outside high
line. But, at the end of the first
lap, just past the start-finish line,
Novratil got some traction, lifted
the front wheel slightly, and when
the time came to throw the bike
into a slide, there was no front
traction, and Austin ended up
with a gentle low side to end his
night, as he too was excluded.
That brought the second re-
start, which was essentially a
two-man match race between
Lightcap and Fox for the win. The
gate went up, Lightcap pulled a
slight lead over Fox for about the
first 100 feet, but Fox was having
none of it and took the lead. De-
spite Lightcap's best efforts, Fox
pulled out about a five-bikelength
lead to take the win. It was Fox'
first final win this year.
Richard Haight
FINAL
1. Aaron Fox
2. Slater Lightcap
3. Austin Novratil
4. Max Ruml
IN
THE
WIND
P58
(Right to left) Eddie Castro, Tim Gomez, Buck Blair
and eventual main-event winner Aaron Fox battle at
Industry Hills Speedway.
PHOTO: RICHARD HEIGHT
